Surface covering



y 6, 1943- E. L. CRAIG 2,323,299

SURFACE COVERING Filed April 9, 1941 :5 Sheets-Shet 1 EDWARD CPA/G y ,1943. E. L.,CRAIG SURFACE COVERING Filed April 9, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 EDWARD GWA/G- July 6, 1943.

E. CRAIG SURFACE COVERING Filed April 9, v1941 3 Sheets-Sheet S gwumwho'b EDWARD CPA/6 Patented July 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

SURFACE COVERING Edward L. Craig, Charleston, W. Va. Application April 9, 1941, SerialNo. 387,564

. 3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to coverings for surfaces, and more particularly to building material, the invention being in the form of a covering adapted to be used on frame structures such as buildings, porch gables, posts, steps and the like for giving the finished structure the appearance of being made of natural stone; and the invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure l is a fragmentary elevational view showing the exterior of a wall of a structure, such as a house, having a surface covering applied thereto in accordance with the present invention.

Figur 2 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the application of the surface covering to porch posts and arch.

Figure 3 is a plan vlew'of a sheet of the covering embodying the features of the present invention. 1

Figure 4 is an edge elevational view of the sheet shown in Figure 3 and viewing the same from one end edge thereof. y

Figure 5 is an edge elevational view of the sheet shown in Figure 3 and viewing the same from a top edge thereof.

Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of the sheet shown in Figure 3.

Figure '7 is an elevational view of a covering element constructed in accordance with the present invention and adapted for application to a post or similar article.

Figure 8 is a plan View of the structure shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line ll0 of Figure 1, and

Figure 11 is a fragmentary detail sectional view through a sheet of the covering embodying the features of the present invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that in accordance with the present invention the surface covering is formed in sheets, certain of the sheets being generally of rectangular outline or configuration although the longitudinal and transverse edges may be wavy or angular as shown in Figure 3 and indicated by the reference numeral for application to flat surfaces such as the exterior surfaces of building walls, while other units of the covering are of angular shape, preferably substantially L-shaped, as shown in Figure '7 and indicated by the reference numeral 6, for application to the surface to be'covered at the corners of the structure, as well as for use in covering porch posts and. analogous building units.

Each element of the covering is composed of a foundation or base 1 comprising a thick highly porous or cellular sheet produced by matting or felting together paper pulp, straw mixed with fibre, asbestos or cane stocks. Each sheet is of the desired length, breadth; and thickness for the purpose for which the sheet is to be used and the sheets, as shown, are embossed in relief and dried to remove all moisture, and are then rigid and relatively inflexible; The advantages of such a sheet are that the same is light in weightand holds its shape. The back of the sheet is sprayed with dampproofing while the top surface of-the sheet is sprayed with tar. On the top or outer faces of the sheet or base I and united thereto by the tar sprayed thereon is a tarfelt sheet'8. Over the sheet 8 is placed a surface layer 9 of crushed slate as best shown in Figure 11.

A suitable tool is used for pressing the surface v9 onto the tar felt sheet 8, and such a tool will embody a surface which is the exact intaglio of the embossed base I. In this way the external surface of the sheet'will give the appearance of natural stone, outwardly projecting formations of the sheet simulating the stone, and the Valleys or grooves between such formations and indicated by the reference numeral l0 simulating the mortar or cement joints between the stones.

In this connection, then, and as shown best in Figure 9, the outwardly bulging portions of each unit giving the appearance of the stones are spaced away from the surface H to which the unit is applied, while the grooves or valleys between these outwardly projecting protuberances, and which grooves or valleys simulate the mortar joints between the stones, at the inner side of the sheet contact, more or less materially, the

surface ll.

By having the sheets formed with these haphazard arrangements of bulges and grooves an almost perfect simulation of a stone constructed surface results.

Another salient feature of the invention is to have the marginal edges of eachunit 5, 6 rabbeted as shown so as to provide for the laying of the units in overlapping courses, the edges of adjacent sheets overlapping as shown in Figure 9. and at the overlapping joint being secured to the surface covered through the medium of nails or other fastening elements l3 as shown in said Figure 9.

It will also be noted that substantially each unit 5, 6 is of irregular edge contour, the contour of said edges being such as to permit one unit to complement the other at the joints between the units so that when the covering are laid they will give the appearance of substantially one complete continuous covering, the joints between the severa1 units being practically imperceptible.

Units such as shown in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive and indicated by the reference numeral 5 are used in covering the exterior surfaces of walls, in association with angular units such as shown in Figure 10, and indicated by the reference numeral 6a, and which latter units are used at the corners of the structure.

Units such as shaped in the manner illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 are found preferable in covering such building units as porch posts l4, and as suggested in Figure 2. Also units similar to units 6 are used to cover the arch joist extending between such posts l4 and also shown in Figure 2, except that it may be preferable to have a single angular unit for such joist with the unit shown in Figure 2 and indicated by the reference numeral l5 and being more or less longitudinally curved to conform to the concave bottom side of the arch joist.

From a study of Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that the units may be readily applied to the surface to fit around the casings of windows as best shown in Figure 1 and also to cover completely the porch posts M. In this connection, depending upon the size of the post l4, any number of units of the angular shape shown in Figure 8 may be employed in order to insure a thorough covering of all four sides of such posts.

By having the base portions 1 of the respective units embossed, that is to say, formed as to present a more or less haphazard arrangement of protuberances and grooves or valleys between said protuberances, an appearance of stones of substantial thickness is produced, with the valleys or grooves serving to simulate the mortar lines between th adjacent stones in the finished surface;

It is thought that a clear understanding of the construction, utility, manner of use and advantages of a surface covering embodying the features of the present invention will be had without a more detailed description thereof.

It is also to be understood that while I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is in no wis intended to restrict the invention to the precise details of construction, combination and arrangement of elements as herein illustrated, other than as may be required by the prior art and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a surface covering unit comprising a relatively thick substantial rigid base body of pressed fibrous material, the body being shaped to have one face presenting well defined protrusions and valleys, a tar felt sheet overlying and firmly united to the said one face of the base and following the contours thereof, a granular material adhesively secured to and covering said sheet, the said protrusions simulating laid stones and valleys simulating mortar lines between adjacent stones, the portions of the base forming the backs of the valleys together with the back of the base adjacent the periphery of the unit lying in a common plane whereby the unit has contact with a supporting surface only around its periphery and at various locations within the area defined by the periphery.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the back of the base has a coating of dampproofing and the face has a coating of tar by which the felt sheet is secured thereto.

3. A surface covering unit of the character described, comprising a relatively thick layer of a fibrous material such as paper pulp, straw mixed with asbestos, pressed to form a base body having a front side presenting well-defined protrusions and valleys and a rear side representing an intaglio of the front side, the said valleys upon the rear side being identified by ridges and said ridges and the rear side of the body throughout its periphery lying in a common plane, the front side of the body having a layer of tar thereover, a tar felt sheet covering the tarred front side of the body and adhering firmly against the front side over the said protrusions and valleys, and a granular material such as stone or the like covering and pressed into the surface of the tar felt sheet.

EDWARD L. CRAIG. 

